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Last Day

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 Friday, May 21 Sitting on the sofa, gazing out of the window, after an early breakfast, I saw a large dark bird in the sky. Pam grabbed her bins as I said, 'White-tailed Eagle'. What a splendid sighting. We then, despite the 45 mph wind, making it difficult to stand let alone walk, walked to the car and drove to Griminis and Loch Mor. Time to sit loch-side for over an hour, hoping that a Red-necked Phalarope would appear. None did. Far too windy. The birds were stalling in flight, staying huddled down for as long as possible. Red-breasted Mergansers, Shelduck, Shoveller, Arctic Terns, Grey Heron and many Greylag. An unfamiliar ticking call eventually revealed itself as a displaying Snipe.  Stinky Bay and the Range area, were almost devoid of birds. There seems to have been a mass clear out. Three Short-eared Owls in the space of an hour was a bonus. We lunched watching the sea curl, foam, and spray at Stinky Bay before returning for another look at Loch Mor. We wanted a last...
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Before the Storm

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 Thursday, May 20 It is now 6 p.m. and the forecast storm has arrived, 45 mph wind, with showers rattling our windows and doors. We had a lovely day though, not good for birds, great for scenery enhancement.  Grumpy, the Blue Texel tup, saw us on our way, as usual. We both love Berneray. On the way there, I had a message from Sue telling me that they were on their way there too, for their last day. On reaching the island, our first destination was Borgh, a great expanse of farmed and unfarmed machair, stretching to cliffs and sea. A few Twite, Rock Doves and Oystercatchers, nothing like the large number of small waders previously seen here. They must have gone on their way, north. Arctic Terns danced gracefully into the distance, landing on the ground, never near enough for a photo. A Lapwing noisily seeing off an Oystercatcher drew our attention to its partner sitting on the ground.This adult flew away too, leaving a diminutive, still wet from the shell chick, eyes shut, cro...
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Another Fine Day

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  Wednesday, May 19 Kallinn is a small fishing port on the east coast of Grimsay. Pam expressed a wish for a return visit - we did so in a previous year. Whilst we were getting ready, we had a message from Sue, saying that she and Ian were watching two Red-necked Phalaropes on Loch Mor. This was the second time that they'd seen them mating, we all did two years ago. That was an easy decision to make. We'd go the pretty way. When we first arrived at the west end of  Loch Mor at Balevanich, a Red-necked Phalarope flew along the edge of the reeds before leaving in the direction of Loch Fada. Despite waiting patiently in the east end passing place, we didn't get any further views. Lunch and the Range at Ardivachar in South Uist. beckoned. The future of the UK's largest missile range, based in the Western Isles, will be secure until 2028 following an announcement by the range's operators that it has been awarded a £1bn contract amendment from the Ministry of Defence....
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Clouds and Cuckoos

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Tuesday, May 18   News of a Dotterel on the machair at Aird An Runair made that our first port of call. My appetite had been whetted by seeing Ian's very good photo. The bird had moved onto harrowed land, was much more distant - and down a deep furrow. It took some finding. Pam walked down the track until she could see up the ruts, and there it was, preening. And there it stayed for the next hour, still preening. It must be the most immaculate bird in Scotland. An elderly gentleman said, 'it must be a female'. Tut. It actually was. Having seen no more than a head and shoulders - from the back - we decided to move on. Griminis always has birds for us. Pretty birdless to-day. A few small waders and Eider in the bay, Arctic Terns, Shoveller, Wigeon, Shelduck on Loch Mor. We were patient, but no Phalarope.  Such a beautiful day, it was a pleasure to witness the countryside - or more accurately, the seashore.  The sea is visible from everywhere, white shell sand, rocks and va...
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A Ruff Day

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Monday, May 17  An auspicious date. The day when lockdown is eased almost completely - apart from some social distancing and mask-wearing. Everyone can mix indoors and out, hugging is allowed, pubs and restaurants are open.   We started the day with a shower in our own en suite bathrooms. That meant a bit of a wait whilst hair dried, we breakfasted, caught up with emails etc. Rather more interesting moths this morning. A Brown Silverlines, Poplar Hawkmoth, another Dark-barred Twinspotted Carpet and the usual Drabs and Red Chestnuts. No photos, the moths were released without my knowledge.  It was almost noon when we left for Loch Sandary, that pesky Wood Sandpiper news had come through again on the local WhatsApp. We could not find it again, but we did find a handsome Ruff amongst the Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Redshank, and Turnstone.   Committee Road - ComRo from now on - is the shortest way to Sollas and on to Bernaray. No stopping, one Short-eared Owl seen en...
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Meanderings

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 Sunday, May 16 Eynort in South Uist  was the destination aim. We could not drive down to South Uist without a detour to Ardivachar and Loch Mor in Benbecula. After the obligatory look at the bay where a scattering of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Eider fed, we spent some time puzzled as to the identity of a very distant wader. One would think that Norfolk birders would not be puzzled for long by what  turned out to be a Knot. Yet we were. On to view Loch Mor's western end from a raised gateway entrance from which Loch Fada may also be viewed. Pam binned Fada first - we take it in turns to open windows so that we don't get a through gale - finding our first Wigeon of the trip, Grey Heron, Redshank and Oystercatchers. My turn to scope Loch Mor. Starting on the left, I scanned Arctic Terns on their nesting island, Shelduck, a pair of sleeping Wigeon, and......a small actively preening wader. Red-necked Phalarope. The first reported this year I believe. I messaged Ian and Sue, ...
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Moths and an Owl

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 Saturday, May 15 A week already gone. One more to savour.  Only one moth again this morning, What a moth though, a female Emperor, the first we've ever seen. She has laid four eggs for us so we'll see if we can rear them. Yesterday's Puss Moth was rescued from the refrigerator and also photographed, rather badly.    We spent some time to-day using the Emperor lure again, in several different places. All were successful, the results the same. Frantic fluttering in the proximity of the lure without ever getting close. As Pam remarked, it's a wonder that they ever procreate successfully. Another sunny day, the temperature rising to a tropical (for Uist) 15C, spent exploring, looking for Corncrakes, generally relaxing. Loch Paibles was new to us. A sea inlet loch with the cutomary white sand beaches, rocky shores, marram covered sand dunes, and azure sea. Just lovely. Again, nearly empty of people - one other car and solitary driver - empty of birds too. There was no se...
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